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Thursday, June 24, 2010

New PM - Julia Gillard

Today a massive change occured in Australian Politics.

In case you haven't heard (and I am sure you have) Julia Gillard is the new Australian Prime Minister. Our first ever female PM and only the second time a prime minister has been replaced through party room machinations in office.

It has been met with much positive response (especially from women - even those from the other side of politics) it has also been met with a lot of negative response - a little sad.

My feelings are like many others absolutely delighted, incredibly optimistic but also a little pessimistic. There are the nay-sayers because she is a woman, nay-sayers because she wasn't elected (Well she was by her electorate just like Kevin was!) nay-sayers as she is unmarried.

And of course she has to manage the factional politics of the Australian Labour Party - think shark-infested waters criss-crossed with balance beams and razor wire and you might be about two-thirds of the way there.

She is a consumate politician and she really does seem to have Tony Abbott's number (and regularly runs rings around him in question time) whilst maintaing a joking and friendly demeanour.

2 comments:

There is wonderful potential when a population opens their minds to new possibilities. I can't comment on Australian politics but from way up here in Canada Australia looks enlightened and progressive indeed!

That being said, how sad that gender is still even an issue anywhere in the world!